What you need to know about the stealth Omicron (BA.2)?
Stealth Omicron or BA.2 is a subvariant of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Experts believe that it has more mutations than the original strain, which makes it very concerning.
Currently a ‘variant under investigation’, the UK Health Service Agency (UKHSA) has said that the sub-strain is one level below the status of ‘variant of concern'. The health agency has suggested that it spreads much faster than the BA.1 strain, and can also escape tracking.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a “number of countries have reported recent increases in the proportion of BA.2 sequences.” While data on the strain so far is “really quite limited,” the global health organization urges countries to continue testing, surveillance and sequencing.
Also read: Coronavirus: How Omicron symptoms may vary in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals
Also read: Coronavirus: The complete list of COVID vaccines currently in use in India
Highly transmissible and harder to track
Latest reports suggest that the new subvariant has been detected in as many as 54 countries. In India too, the strain is believed to have led to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. While England has reported several cases of stealth Omicron, Denmark has been listed as the most affected country by the subvariant.
However, according to a statement released by Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut, a government-run infectious disease research center, “Initial analysis shows no differences in hospitalizations for BA.2 compared to BA.1." “It is expected that vaccines also have an effect against severe illness upon BA.2 infection," the statement further read. The stealth Omicron does not seem to pose any serious threat to life so far.
But irrespective of how mild the subvariant may be, one thing that separates it from its original strain is its ability to escape the tracking process.
Also read: Coronavirus: Signs you may have had the Omicron but didn't know
Negative test results could be a possibility, even with COVID symptoms
As per experts, the Stealth Omicron lacks a mutation, which is integral to detect COVID-19. According to the UKHSA, Omicron contains a genetic deletion in the “S” spike gene that helps healthcare providers to easily detect it with an RT PCR test. However, in the stealth Omicron, there is no S gene drop out, making it difficult to track and highly problematic.
Given that the BA.2 version of the Omicron variant can evade detection, you could get a negative test result even if you have COVID-19 symptoms, in light of which you need to be more careful than usual.
See more: Coronavirus in India: The leading COVID-19 symptom reported during Omicron wave
What experts recommend you do
US-based epidemiologist Faheem Younus took to twitter to warn against taking mild Omicron symptoms lightly, even if one tests negative for the virus.
Having a sore throat or a fever calls for immediate testing, according to the Doctor. However, if your results come out as negative, he recommends taking the test again in another 24 to 48 hours. This time, rather than a rapid antigen test, he recommends an RT PCR COVID-19 test.
Furthermore, Dr Younus suggests isolating for 5 to 10 days and says, "Don't just believe a single negative rapid test.
Most accurate form of COVID testing
While rapid antigen test and self-testing kits are prompt in delivering results, molecular tests, also known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), is the most reliable and accurate test for detecting an active coronavirus infection. This is because an RT PCR test undergoes a series of specialized diagnostic processes and looks at the entire virus RNA, whereas an antigen test only looks at the protein part.
Health experts recommend getting a molecular test in case you want to be sure of your COVID status.
Home isolation is key
At a time when it is extremely difficult to differentiate between an Omicron infection and a common cold, one must tend to COVID protocols and take all measures responsibly.
If you have a headache, a sore throat, runny nose, body pain and fatigue, it is important that you get tested immediately and isolated until you get a negative test report. In India, for both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID patients, the home-isolation period has been cut short to 7 days rather than 10 days.
Many other countries including the United Kingdom have reduced it to 5 days.
Follow COVID-appropriate behavior
In light of new emerging variants, breakthrough infections and lower vaccine efficacy, one must stay on guard and take all precautionary steps to protect themselves and others from the deadly virus.
No matter how mild the virus is currently, dangers of severity and long COVID are a great possibility.